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Here you can find reports from particular EU countries on persecution of Christians.
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Flemish and European Evangelical Alliance anxious over liberal "sect-bill"
Two MPs of the Belgian liberal VLD have proposed a bill to deal firmer with sects. From the text of
the proposal it becomes clear that they name Christian churches together with sects like scientology
and the sun-temple. They state: "From research by the 'Information and council centre on harmful
sects' it appears that the protestant churches of the Baptists and evangelicals are growing in Belgium.
Flemish EA president Kris Vleugels says this is a dangerous proposal. "If this is accepted all
kinds of Christian churches will feel the consequences". According to Kris Vleugels, who is also
member of the Flemish Christian-democrats, the list of churches and organisations called "sects"
made by this centre, has been rejected by the parliament last year. Vleugels is especially worried about
the precise formulations used to define sects and punishments. These are two-years imprisonment and fines
till 1000 euro for "sect leaders" who "exploit anyone's credulousity by convincing him of
the existence of false undertakings, of an imaginary power or the appearance of nonexistent events".
Vleugels: "Do they mean the existence of God when they talk of an imaginary power? Not existent
events; do they mean 'the anointment' with the Holy Spirit or the resurrection of Christ? Is it to the
government to decide on whether we should believe in God or not?"
Vleugels has contacted the European Evangelical Alliance who also expressed his worries about this bill.
It is still unclear if there is a parliamentary majority for it and when it will be put to the vote.
Vleugels mentioned this situation in a conference with the theme "Is the freedom of religion under
pressure?" at the Evangelical Theological Faculty of Leuven. He also expressed his worries about the
growing call in the public debate to bar religious symbols like crosses and shawls in public just like
France. "There is a bill in preparation to prohibit religious signs in the clothing of civil servants.
On the conference also talked Prof. Dr. Pieter Boersema and Karin de Jonge, professor and teacher at the
ETF and Cors Visser of the scientific institute of the dutch ChristenUnie.
Source: ECPM (European Christian Political Movement), 31 May 2005
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Under Suspicion: Faith in France
France passes controversial anti-cult law ("About-Picard law")
By George Thomas
CBN News Sr. Reporter
01 March 2002
One of the oldest democracies in Europe is accused of violating religious freedoms. France made
headlines, when it took bold steps to control the activities of certain religious and spiritual groups.
Passing a controversial anti-cult law two years ago, France embarked on what some feared was a trend
to restrict and oversee religious movements. But the French are not alone. Several other European
governments have expressed interest in adopting similar laws.
Thousands gather at a Sunday morning church service in the Mulhouse, France to worship, pray and hear
from God. It's a familiar scene repeated weekly across this country and around the world.
But in this country, where the Constitution states, "France shall respect all beliefs",
evangelical churches like one CBN News visited in the town of Mulhouse, are under suspicion. Such
scenes of absolute devotion to God are increasingly viewed as fanatical, irrational. Some even call this
church, the largest charismatic church in the country, a cult.
That makes Pastor Samuel Peterschmitt's job of bringing the Gospel to the ends of the earth, all the
more challenging. "Now in France, it is very difficult to preach the Gospel", said Peterschmitt.
And he should know. French security authorities monitor his services. The pastor explained to us how this
practice works, how the authorities mingle among the crowd, listening and writing. "Yes, they are
taking information and they know everything. They want to see what we are doing", said Peterschmitt.
The church in Mulhouse is not alone. Using the equivalent of America's FBI, the French secret police have
increased their scrutiny on minority groups across France. Baptists, evangelicals, and Protestants, along
with Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses and the Church of Scientology, report growing intolerance and
discrimination.
To legitimize their crackdown, the government in Paris has armed judges with a new and powerful weapon:
an anti-cult law to battle the growing influence of religious movements. Catherine Picard, a member of
the French National Assembly, helped write the new law. Picard is proud to say that the goal is to prevent
groups of a "cult-like character" from using "psychological and physical" pressure to
recruit and retain followers. "With this new law, at no time can anyone manipulate someone by forcing
them to join a group", Picard said.
Section I of the anti-cult law makes "mental manipulation" a crime. Anyone found guilty of
causing "a state of psychological or physical subjection resulting from serious and repeated
pressures or techniques designed to alter judgement" faces five years imprisonment. Courts can
dissolve religious groups and impose heavy fines. "The goal is to punish illegal religious practices
that harm the dignity of individuals", said Picard.
"In my opinion, the goal of this law is the completion of the French Revolution - the eradication
of religion in the life of the public in France and the opening of the door for a purely secular
society", said Joel Thorton of the European Center for Law and Justice, based in Strasbourg, France.
The ECLJ is the international arm of the Virginia-based American Center for Law and Justice. Thorton fears
Thorton fears the anti-cult law could even criminalize evangelism by deeming it an exercise in
"serious and repeated pressure". "This law puts a person, who has a sincerely held
religious belief that they need to work to convert people to their religious beliefs - it puts them at
odds with the government almost from the moment they begin to evangelize people in public or in
private", he said.
Ironically, in a nation that touts its motto, "Liberty, Equality and Brotherhood", Picard
has a warning for proselytizers. She said, "Proselytizing is not authorized by the French
government. When religious groups talk about having the right to proselytize, the local government
may authorize such activities, but in reality, such practices are illegal".
Some argue the anti-cult movement in France intensified in 1995 following the mass suicide-murders
of members of a secretive cult group. Two years later, a commission formed to investigate the cult
movement in France presented the French parliament with a list of a 172 groups considered dangerous.
Among those implicated were Catholic charismatics and evangelicals.
"From that day on we were branded a sect, a cult in France", said Pastor Vince Easterman,
whose evangelical church in Paris was among those blacklisted. "After that list appeared, there
was never an opportunity to defend ourselves, there was never an opportunity for an appeal".
After six years of legal wrangling, Easterman was forced to change the name of his church from
Christian Life to Union of Protestant Assemblies. Since then, other churches have even considered
removing the word "evangelical" from their names for fear of negative media attention.
"There is no doubt that in the last 10 years, France has become increasingly hostile to the
Gospel, and we have had to adapt ourselves to a changing society, a society that has little respect
for the Bible and Christian moral values", Easterman said.
Other elements of the French law include a ban on advertising or opening religious centers near
schools, hospitals, or retirement homes. Churches that traditionally help the down and out run the
risk of being criminally convicted. Targeting the youth is also illegal. "If we want to have
children's church, Sunday school, that can be seen as influencing minors", he explained.
"If we do work for old people, it¿s preying on vulnerable. If we want to have a time of prayer
and fasting, it's seen as deprivation of food and sleep".
International human rights groups have condemned the law as anti-democratic and anti-religious. And
the problem could spread. "If something is not done in France, you are going to see this law move
across Europe, I believe, and you'll see a Europe that is united in its hostility to religion",
Thorton said. A dozen European countries are now searching for tactics to contain faith groups. And
it is not just the Europeans. China's Communist leaders are also looking to draw up similar laws based
on the French model to monitor religious activities in that country. Picard acknowledged, "I met
with the Chinese leader of religious affairs".
"That's not something that you want to be walking around and bragging about", said Thorton.
Meanwhile, French and European lawmakers are fueled by growing public resentment against a perceived
intrusion by American religious groups. "One person even suggested that it was America's new way
of invading Europe and exercising an imperial influence in Europe through the cults and evangelical
churches", said Easterman.
"Europe is very concerned about protecting its democracies", Picard said. "We are fully
aware that behind all these prominent religious movements, 90 percent of which comes from the United
States, there are hidden agendas that are against the democracies".
Back in Mulhouse, Pastor Peterschmitt braced for a court battle. A former church member, armed with the
new law, brought charges against the congregation. If convicted, Peterschmitt could be imprisoned. His
church would be shut down. But he says he is not afraid of going to jail. "No way", he said.
"Why must I be afraid? I cannot say that I will be happy. But if I must go because I preached the
Word of God and because the church wants to do the will of God, it will be in this thinking a joy!"
It is too early to predict whether enforcing this anti-cult law, passed here in French National Assembly,
will become the norm or the exception. In the meantime, Christians in France and across Europe are
bracing for what they fear could be a growing wave of religious intolerance.
In this month, hundreds of French Christian churches and prayer groups will participate in
a 40-day prayer and Fasten for France. The prayer initiative bearing the title
"Change Our Nation" is targeted on bringing about positive changes
within the church and a reformation of French society.
Source: "France Passes Controversial Anti-Cult Law" (CBN), derived from the
original French version of the interview: "France: La foi sous surveillance - Interview du pasteur de Mulhouse, Samuel Peterschmitt"
(provided by VoxDei on SAMIZDAT, a Canadian Francophone evangelical web service
for Francophone evangelicals all over the world).
Annotation: As "Gemeinde- und Missionswerk ARCHE" in Hamburg-Stellingen, Germany, maintains
close relationships to the church of Samuel Peterschmitt in Mulhouse, I have had more than once the
opportunity to participate in ARCHE activities featuring Samuel Peterschmitt as a guest speaker.
Torsten Narjes, Hamburg, Germany
Annotation: Further reports on the story in France developing during the second half of 2001 were
collected by Vineyard church Federal Way, Washington, USA.
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European Union Criminalizing Christian position on Homosexuality
The European Parliament has passed a resolution that requires all member states to ban
"Homophobia". This resolution makes no allowances for religious beliefs on homosexuality.
One statement in the resolution that is most disturbing is "Homophobia manifests itself in the
private and public spheres in different forms such as hate speech ... and unjustified and unreasonable
limitations of rights, which are often hidden behind reasons of public order, religious freedom and
the right to conscientious objection".
Aldo Giordano, secretary-general of the Council of European Bishops' Conferences, noted "The
declaration shows an aversion for certain values of our tradition, notably religious values".
Euro-Fam, an interdenominational family advocacy organization, commented "It is important to note
that quoting biblical passages dealing with homosexuality have led to imprisonment and to legal actions
in the past on the basis of so-called 'homophobia'. Hence, it is disturbing that the resolution does not
clearly reaffirm the freedom of religion and even seems to want to suppress the freedom of expression
(for those who wish to refer to the Bible)".
Source: Berlin Wall Between Church and State, 01 February 2006
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